Drain tube for a refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A drain tube for a refrigerator for use with a collection pan located under a freezing zone of the refrigerator, to permit that the water travels from the freezing zone until a tray located under a compressor. The drain tube comprises a hollow nozzles the hollow nozzle includes an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being connected below of a first collection pan, and a flexible corrugated tube including a plurality of corrugations forming a triangular form, the corrugations including a first wall projected downwardly and inwardly from a top end of the first wall, and a second wall being also projected downwardly and inwardly over the first wall, forming a stepped section with peaks and grooves. The flexible corrugated tube is coupled on the lower section of the hollow nozzle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a drain tube for a refrigerator and more particularly, to a flexible drain tube for transferring defrosted water from a freezing zone to an evaporation zone of a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

[0002] Generally, a domestic refrigerator includes a compressor through which a refrigerant is compressed and circulated in a liquid-phase refrigerant, and an evaporator through which a condensation step is carried out. The condensation developed by the evaporator, generates the accumulation of water in a freezing zone of the refrigerator, which is recovered by a collection pan that is discharged by means of a drain tube until a tray, normally located under the compressor wherein is evaporated by the heat from the compressor.

[0003] One of the main causes of refrigerators leaking is the drainage system for the water that is made by defrosting the refrigerator automatically. All frost free refrigerators defrost on a regular basis. The pan can be found under the evaporator cooling coil in the freezer section of the refrigerator. In most top freezer models the pan sits directly under the evaporator in the freezer section. A tube extends down into a drain cup that is in the control panel in the fresh food section. A tube leaves the cup and goes thru the back wall of the refrigerator and on to the tray in the bottom. They normally stop up in the area of the tube leaving the cup.

[0004] Examples of refrigeration systems for the evaporation of water are disclosed in the following patents, i.e. the U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,835 assigned to Glenn E. Goetz issued on Jul. 4, 1989, is referred to a rigid plastic twist lock drain funnel for conveying defrost water from the interior of the refrigerator cabinet, through the insulation space, to the exterior. A top portion of the funnel has a groove seating an O-ring, and a central portion has a pair of radially extending cam-shaped ears. During fabrication, the drain funnel is inserted from inside the refrigerator liner through an aperture having notches for receiving the ears, and then the funnel is twisted approximately 90 degrees to engage the ears as a cam lock. In such arrangement, the funnel is securely attached to the liner and the O-ring provides a seal therebetween so as to prevent subsequently injected foam insulation from leaking to the interior of the cabinet. To allow for misalignment between the linear and the outer case, the opposite end of the drain tunnel passes through an oversized hole in the outer case of the refrigerator. A spongy gasket around the lower end of the funnel is compressed between a shoulder of the funnel and the outer case so as to provide a seal therebetween.

[0005] The U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,514 issued to Robert K. Ho is related to a defrost water drain system for a refrigerator, which includes a defrostable evaporator disposed in a food storage compartment wherein a drain system is provided for disposing of the defrost water dripping from the evaporator during a defrost operation. The drain system includes a drip tray disposed within the food storage compartment below the evaporator and an evaporator pan mounted below the food storage compartment. A drain tube is provided having a first end positioned below the drip tray for receiving the defrost water and having a second end positioned over the evaporator pan such that the drain tube drains the defrost water from the drip tray into the evaporator pan. The drain tube further includes a drain trap portion and a vent disposed upstream of the drain trap portion. The vent includes a valve for allowing air flow into the drain tube for equalizing the air pressure in the food storage compartment with the ambient air pressure but prevents air flow out of the drain tube such that no thermal leakage occurs through the drain tube.

[0006] Finally, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,183 issued to Eric E-Lee Chang on Feb. 24, 1998, is related to a water trap cup for use in connection with a drain tube in a refrigerator. In one embodiment, the water trap cup includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The side wall includes retaining webs configured for retaining an end of the drain tube within the water trap cup, and a bottom stop extends from the side wall and maintains the drain tube end spaced from the bottom wall so that a seal is not formed between the bottom wall and the drain tube. The retaining webs generally define a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first and second chambers are in fluid communication. To assemble the water trap cup to the drain tube, the first chamber is aligned with the tube, and the cup is pushed upward into engagement with the drain tube until the drain tube end contacts the bottom stop.

[0007] However, one of the main problems in the defrosting function is the removing of the water from the freezer zone until the tray located under the compressor. Normally, the drain tube is an important element for removing the water, which is made of a rigid material. Depending of the refrigerator model, the tube is introduced through of the back wall of the refrigerator, so, for each size and model of refrigerator is necessary to make a specific configuration of drain tube.

[0008] Notwithstanding the above, these types of designs does not facilitate the installing of the drain tube in the refrigerators, due mainly to that the drain tube is formed in separated parts, which are assembled in accordance with the size and form of the refrigerator. The separated parts including branches, elbows, couplings, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, another disadvantage of drain tubes is that the assembled parts present the accumulation of residues and by consequence the formation of fungus.

[0010] From the above the present invention is related to a flexible drain tube that facilitate the installation in the refrigerators and furthermore, to facilitate the flow of the water from the freezer zone.

[0011] In accordance with the above, the present invention is related to a drain tube for a refrigerator; the drain tube is connected to a collection pan located under a freezing zone, to permit that the water travels from the freezing zone until a tray located under a compressor. The drain tube comprises: a hollow nozzle, said hollow nozzle includes an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being connected below of said collection pan; and a flexible corrugated tube comprising a plurality of corrugations forming a triangular form, said corrugations including a first wall projected downwardly and inwardly from a top end of said first wall, and a second wall, said second inclined wall being projected downwardly and inwardly over said first wall, to form a stepped section with peaks and grooves, said flexible corrugated tube being coupled in the lower section of said hollow nozzle.

OBJETIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Is a first objective of the present invention to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator, to facilitate the installation of the drain tube in any type of refrigerator.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator, that facilitate the flow of the water from the freezer zone in the upper part of the refrigerator until a lower tray located above of a compressor.

[0014] Is an additional objective of the present invention, to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator, which avoids the accumulation of residues and the formation of fungus.

[0015] An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator, which only requires be cut to length to be placed on any type and size of refrigerator, that is, a drain tube called “one fits all”

[0016] Other objective of the present invention is to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator, which due to this is corrugated have a great resistance to be collapsed.

[0017] Is another objective of the present invention is to provide a drain tube for a refrigerator which does not require be bent and formed.

[0018] These and other objectives and additional advantages of the present invention will be evident to those persons who are experts in the field of the following detailed description of the invention, which will be made with reference to two specific embodiments of it in an illustrative sense but not one that would limit the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The FIG. 1 is an elevated side view of a refrigerator showing the location of the drain tube of the present invention;

[0020] The FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the drain tube in a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] The FIGS. 3A and 3B is a second embodiment of the present invention showing two types of configurations;

[0022] The FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a section of the drain tube in accordance with present invention; and,

[0023] The FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Making now reference to FIG. 1, this shows a partial view of a refrigerator 10, which includes a cabinet 12. The refrigerator 10 including a freezer compartment 14 and a fresh food compartment 16 separated of the freezer compartment 14 by an insulated wall 18. The freezer compartment 14 includes an evaporator 20, through which a condensation step is carried out. Under the evaporator 20 is located a collection pan 22 for collecting the water that is accumulated in the freezing zone A drain tube 24 is connected below the collection pan 22, said drain tube 24 passes through the internal part of the back wall 26 of the refrigerator 10 until that the said drain tube 24 is located above of a water collection tray 28 located under a compressor 30 in the lower part of the refrigerator 10, wherein the water that is collected in said collection tray 28 is evaporated by the heat from said compressor 30.

[0025] In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, the drain tube 24 comprises: a hollow nozzle 32 that includes an upper section 34 and a lower section 36; the upper section 34 including a first flange 38 to coupled above of the periphery of an aperture (not shown) in the collection pan 22 and a second flange 40 disposed below of said aperture (not shown), said first flange 38 and said second flange 40 being coupled on the aperture of said collection pan 22; the lower section 36 of the hollow nozzle 32 having an annular section 42 for receiving a first end 44 of a flexible corrugated tube 46 which is projected through of the back wall 26 of the refrigerator 10 until the flexible corrugated tube 46 is located above the collection tray 28 located under the compressor 30. The flexible corrugated tube 46 comprising a plurality of corrugations 48, which are connected together in such way as to form peaks 50 and grooves 52. The free end 54 of the flexible corrugated tube 46 being reduced to a reduced diameter 56.

[0026] In the second embodiment of the present invention showed in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hollow nozzle 32 is shaped with a right section 58 and a curved section 60. Said curved section 60 forming a right angle with respect to the right section 58.

[0027] Finally, the FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a section of the drain tube 24, which shows the hollow nozzle 32, which includes the upper section 34 and the lower section 36; the upper section 34 including the first flange 38 which be coupled to the collection pan 22. The first flange 38 and said second flange 40 being coupled on the aperture of said collection pan 22. As can be observed in FIG. 4, the plurality of corrugations 48 are formed in a triangular form, which includes a first wall 62 which is projected downwardly and inwardly from the top end 64, and a second inclined wall 66, which is also projected downwardly and inwardly, over the first wall 62, to form a stepped section 68. This stepped section 68 being so formed to avoid the accumulation of residues, when the water of the freezing zone is discharged by means of the drain tube 24 toward the collection tray 28.

[0028] In the second embodiment of the present invention showed in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hollow nozzle 32 is shaped with a right section 58 and a curved section 60. Said curved section 60 forming a right angle with respect to the right section 58.

[0029] Finally, in a third embodiment of the present invention, the drain flexible tube 70 comprises: a hollow nozzle 72 that includes an upper section 74 and a lower section 76; the upper section 74 being directly coupled about the periphery of a drain tube 78 of a collection pan 80. The lower section 76 having an annular section 82, to receive an upper end 84 of said flexible tube 70.

[0030] As can be seen from the above, three embodiments of a drain tube for use with a refrigerator were described. However, it must be understood that the invention should not be limited to the embodiments above described, and it will be apparent to the experts in the field that other diverse embodiments could be implemented, along with alternative embodiments which will be clearly contained within the spirit of the present invention which are claimed in the following claims. 

What is claimed is: 1.- In a refrigerator of the type that includes a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment including an evaporator through which a condensation step is carried out; a collection pan located below the evaporator for collecting the water that is accumulated in the freezing zone; a drain tube connected below the collection pan, said drain tube passing through of an internal wall of the refrigerator until that said drain tube arrives above of a water collection tray located below a compressor in the lower part of the refrigerator, said water is collected in said collection tray and it is evaporated by the heat from said compressor, said drain tube comprising: a hollow nozzle, said hollow nozzle includes an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being connected below of said collection pan; and a flexible corrugated tube comprising a plurality of corrugations forming a triangular form, said corrugations including a first wall projected downwardly and inwardly from a top end of said first wall, and a second wall being projected downwardly and inwardly over said first wall, to form a stepped section with peaks and grooves, said flexible corrugated tube being coupled in the lower section of said hollow nozzle. 2.- The drain tube as claim in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the hollow nozzle includes, a first flange located on the upper section of said hollow nozzle and a second flange disposed below of said first flange, said first flange and said second flange being coupled on an aperture shaped in said collection pan. 3.- The drain tube as claim in claim 1, wherein the hollow nozzle comprises a right section and a curved section, said curved section forming a right angle with respect to the right section. 4.- The drain tube as claim in claim 1, wherein the lower section of the hollow nozzle includes, an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being directly coupled about the periphery of a drain tube of said collection pan. 